The Court of Appeal has nullified a previous Colombo High Court ruling that acquitted former MP Sajin Vass Gunawardena from corruption charges related to a Rs. 883 million financial loss allegedly caused to the state during his tenure as CEO of Mihin Lanka.
The Appeals Court bench, comprising Justices Shiran Gunaratne and Amal Ranaraja, issued the directive after considering a revision application filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).
Gunawardena was accused of causing the financial loss between June 27, 2007, and May 29, 2008, by purchasing equipment from a private company in violation of government procurement procedures.
During the original High Court trial, Gunawardena’s lawyers raised preliminary objections claiming the indictment was flawed. The High Court accepted the objection and acquitted him.
However, the Appeals Court found that the High Court’s decision was legally unsound. It has now directed the Colombo High Court to retry the case. (Newswire)
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